Swivel joint



1952 c. KLINGLER ETAL SWIVEL JOINT Filed May 19. 1949 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES...

PATENT OFFICE SWIVEL J OI N '1- Charles Klingler, Amityville', andEfrnestF.

Klingler; Ilindenhur'st, N. Y.

ApplicationMayl 1949, Serial No.- 94,106

and a garden hose, and has for-its prime purpose 5 to provide an unrestricted movement of a garden hose at any desired angle in respect-to the faucet was to prevent kinking or'twistingof' the hose; the device being further designed to readily-facilitate unraveling and untwisti'ng of a kinkedgarden hose while associated with a faucet.

One of the prime objects of the presentinvention is toprovide a simple, inexpensive'and efficient hose connecting. unit adapted for association with an existing water faucet, and" which" comprises I a faucet-engaging member and a hose-engageable member revolvable' in respect to said faucet-engaging member. 7 Another important object of this; invention isthe provision of a-hose-connecting unit compris-- 20,

The foregoing and numerous other objects and ing a faucet-engaging member provided with" a washer seat for accommodating and holding' awasher, and a hose-engageable member having a" corresponding washer seat, and tension means between the faucet-engaging member and hose-' 5 engageable member for urging a washer held by the washer seat of the faucet-engaging member against: a. washer seat provided in the hose engageable member.

A morev specific object-of' the present invention is the provision of a hose-connecting unit which is composed of a substantially tubular faucetengaging-memberi having means at its interior end for supporting a washer,.- and a hose-engageabl e 'member comprising a sleeve element,

rotatably' mounted about the. faucet-engaging: member'and an angularlyhollow body removably associated. with said sleeve element! and pro.- vided with means: for facilitating. attachment.

thereto of a-hose, and wherein. a washer isplaced 40 between the interioror lower .end. of thezsleeve. element and the. interior orlower' endv of. the faucet-engaging member, and Whereima: tension. element is interposed between the outerionuppers end of thefaucet-engaging member and the outer.

or upper endof the-sleeve element for urging said"; washer, against the: interior'or lowerren'd," of the. latterelement.

A: still further specific-'object f. thislinverrtion is to provide a hose-connectingv unit; com.

posed: broadly of a' faucet-engaging memberwa'nd; a hose-engageable member; andv wherein the-- former member is recessed; at its extreme inn terior end for the reception" of-a' spring ring,. whicln latter is. adapted. to support asolid rm 1' which-in: turn. servessupport and; seatfoni washer, and wherein. the hose-engageable memher is composed of. a-sleeve element, to the. lower endof'which is attached one end of a curved, hollow body and which sleeve element. is provided with a Washer seat opposite said solid ring, and wherein a' washer is interposedv betweensaidring and that seat of the sleeve element, and wherein a spring is interposed between the upper end of the sleeve element and the upper end of the faucet-engaging member to urge the washer against the seat of the sleeve element, and wherein at the other end of the curved body is removably secured another sleeve element in which is rotatably mounted a tubularmember, similar in construction. to'said. faucet-engaging member, but having at its outer end a male thread for engaging a fitting or a garden hose, and wherein again a washer under spring tension is interposed between the end of the hose-engaging member and the correspondingend of the sleeve element.

similar to that shown in Fig; 1 but disclosing at one-piecefaucet-engaging member and a modified form of a washer support;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a device similar to that shown in Fig- 2 withmodifications similar to those disclosed in Fig. 3; and.

. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of still another modified form of a device similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

In the, following detail description of'the drawings, numerals l0, l0 and I0 indicate different types of faucet-engaging members- The hoseengageable members, will be designated as the description of each of the figures progresses. In Fig; 1 the hose-engageable member is indicated at I I. Each of the faucet-engaging members ID in Figs. 1 and 2 comprise atubular structure l2 provided at its interior or lower end with an annular enlargement or flange t3 having a washer seat- [4, supporting a relatively narrow washer l5.

Theupper: end of. tubular structure I2 is threaded at- I6; andz'engaginge that threaded end is bushing 11 provided with a female thread I8 for accom-' modating the threaded end of an existing faucet. At the bottom end of the thread i8 is a seat |9 for the reception of a gasket 20.

Hose-engageable member H is composed of two detachable portions, a sleeve element 2| having a broadened, externally threaded end or flange 22, and a hollow angular body 23. enlarged, internally threaded upper end 24 of the body is removably secured to the threaded flange 22 of element 2|, and lower body end 25 is threaded for connection with a hose fitting. Flange 22 of sleeve element 2| has a combination gasket and washer seat 26, and at the bottom'end of the thread within body enlargement 24 is a gasket seat 27. Between combination seat 26 of sleeve element 2| and thegasket seat 21 of body 23 is placed a relatively broad gasket 28, adjacent to and concentric with washer l5. Between the upper or outer end of sleeve element 2| and the lower end of bushing I! is interposed a tension spring 29 for forcibly urging flange |3 of tubular structure l2, and thus washer |5, against flange 22 of sleeve element 2|.

In Fig. 2 the description and the designations of parts of the faucet-engaging member correspond to that disclosed in Fig. 1. Also sleeve element 2| of Fig. 2 is structurally identical with that illustrated in Fig. 1. However, the faucet-engageable member H is of a different construction from member H of Fig. l, and comprises an elbow fitting 36 with enlarged upper and lower internally threaded ends 3| and 32. Upper end 3| corresponds to upper end 24 of Fig. 1, but the lower end 32 is designed for engagement with a sleeve element 33, similar to sleeve element 2 I, its threaded flange or enlargement 34 engaging the internal thread of elbow enlargement 32. Within sleeve 33 is revolubly mounted tubular member 35 having an interior end flange 36, provided with a washer seat 31 for accommodating and supporting a washer 38. Flange 34 of sleeve 33 has a combination washer and gasket seat 39 for accommodating both washer 38 and gasket 46. Secured to the threaded end 4| of tubular member 35 is an internally threaded bushing 42 provided with an external thread 43 for engagement with a hose fitting. Interposed between bushing 4| and the outer end of sleeve 33 is a spring element 29 similar in structure and function to that shown in the upper portions of Figs. 1 and 2.

In both above described embodiments, sleeves 2| are rotatable about tubular members l2, gaskets 23 form water-tight, fixed connections between sleeves 2| and the upper ends of elbow bodies 23 and 30, and washers M are held under tension b spring elements 29 so that they provide water-tight, but movable connections between tubular members l2 and sleeves 2|. Both in Figs. 1 and 2 it will be observed that gasket 29 is disposed externally to and is spaced from washer I5, both washer and gasket being in concentric relation to one another. In Fig. 2 the lower end of elbow body 30 is also connected in a water-tight, fixed manner with sleeve 33 by means of gasket 40. Washer 36 provides a water-tight but movable connection between sleeve 33 and tubular member 35 as it is forced by flange 36 against the seat of flange 34 through spring 29 at any position of tubular member 35 in respect to sleeve 33.

From the above description of Fig. 2 it will be readily evident that that construction facilitates a double rotary movement, first, of

The i Operation When the hose-connecting unit of the type indicated is attached to a water faucet and a garden hose is secured to its hose-engageable member, the bottom edge of the latter will be disposed in substantially 'a horizontal plane and the hosewill normally depend vertically from the unit. Any movement of the hose end from its normal vertical position is facilitated by the ready rotation of hose-engageable members H or II about faucet-engaging members H].

To state a concrete example, assume that watering by a garden hose is to take place in a glass house wherein plants are usually placed in trays supported by rows of racks spaced by narrow alleys. The limited space between the racks greatly restricts the movement of the garden hose.

When a hose-connecting unit, such as shown in Fig. 1, is employed, say at the center or at any other point of the alley, the hose connected with the unit may be turned within a limited are without becoming twisted or kinked. Where a very long hose is to be employed for watering plants in different sections of a glass house, it is preferred to use a hose-connecting unit such as shown in Fig. 2. That modified structure facilitates the movement of an attached hose not only in an arc', but also allows complete and repeated turning of the hose through 360 degrees in any direction so that it may be used around corners and in any required position without subjecting it to twisting or kinking. Moreover, the structure in Fig. 2 readily facilitates untwisting and unkinking of a coiled hose by the simple expedience of a simple pulling action, without causing a break or other damage to the hose.

Modifications Figs. 3 and 5 illustrate simplified devices similar to that shown in Fig. 1. Faucet-engaging member In of Fig. 3 is a one-piece tubular structure provided at its upper enlarged end 44 with a female thread 45 for engagement with a water faucet. At the bottom end of the thread 45 is a seat for gasket 46, which latter provides a water-tight, fixed connection with a faucet. At the interior or lower end of member ID is a recess 41 for the reception of a split spring ring 48, supporting a full-bodied ring 43 which serves as a seat for a washer 50. Revolubly associated with member I0 is a sleeve 5|, enlargedat its lower end. 52, which latter is threaded internally at 53. Its extreme end is provided with a gasket seat 54 for engagement with a fixed gasket 55. At the interior of enlargement 52 there is provided a washer seat 56 for washer 50.

'Enlarged end 44 of member ID is offset at 51, and between that ofiset end and the upper end of sleeve 5| is interposed a spring element 58 adapted to urge washer 50 against seat 56 within enlargement 52 of sleeve member 5|. Engaging the inte'rnal threads 53 of the sleeve member is the externally threaded end 59 of a hose-en ageable member 50, the latter being provided with a gasket seat 6| opposite gasket seat 54 of the sleeve member. The lower end of hose-engageable member 69 is threaded externally at 62 for engagement with a hose fitting.

In Fig. 5 the faucet-engaging member comprises a relatively slim-walled, drawn tubular structure 63 provided with a flange 54, the latter serving as a seat for a gasket 65 and is engaged at its lower face by the internal flange of threaded bushing 6 6 which is rotatable about tubular structure 63. Bushing 66 is adapted for engagement with an existing water faucet. The interior or loewr end of tubular structure 63 is provided with an annular recess 6'! for the accommodation of a split spring ring 48, supporting a solid ring 49, which latter in turn supports and forms a seat for a washer 59, all of which ring elements are identical with those shown in Fig. 3. There is also employed in this construction a sleeve member 5| and a hose-engageable member 65, both being substantially identical with the corresponding members of Fig. 3. Between sleeve member 5| and bushing 66 there is again employed a spring element denoted at 61 which is similar to spring element 58 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 illustrates a companion structure to that of Fig. 2. The upper faucet-engaging portion I9 is identical with that of Fig. 3 but the hose engageable member generally denoted at 68 differs somewhat from the arrangement shown in Fig. 2. This hose-engageable member comprises an elbow structure 69 with end enlargements l9 and II at which are formed seats 12 and 13 for accommodating gaskets 14 and 15. The extreme ends of elbow 69 are threaded at 16 and Ti. With the lower thread 1'! is associated a sleeve member 18, corresponding in shape to the upper s eeve member 5|. Within sleeve 18 is revolubly lodged a one-piece tubular member 19 provided at its exterior or lower end with a threaded enlargement 89 adapted for association with a hose fitting. Adjacent to enlargement 89 an annular flange BI is shown, which, however, may be omitted when enlarged end 89 is extended to form an abutment. At the interior or upper end of tubular member I9 there will be seen a recess 82 for the reception of a split ring 48 serving as a backing for a full ring 49, which latter in turn forms a seat for washer 50. Within sleeve 18 there is an offset, faced portion serving as counterseat 56 for washer 59. Between the lower end of sleeve 18 and flame 8| there is again placed an expansion spring 58 adapted to urge rings 48 and 49 and washer 50 toward seat 56 within the sleeve.

The modifications illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 substantially correspond in their general structural arrangements and their operation to the devices disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

An important feature in each of the units shown and described is the provision of spring elements between the tubular members and the sleeves rotatable about them. These spring elements have for their primary function to initially urge the washers held at the interior ends of the rotatable members against the washer seats of the sleeves while the water passing through the units is at a relatively low pressure, as is the case, for instance, when the faucet to which the unit is connected is opened only slightly. In that event the action of the spring elements is depended on to prevent leakage of water. When the faucet is turned on fully, the

resulting high water pressure will have the tendency of separating the tubular members from the sleeves, whereby the latter are drawn forcibly against the washers associated with the ends of the tubular members. In that manner a forceful seal between these instrumentalities is effected, and the high pressure of the water takes over and greatly augments the primary function of the spring elements.

Under the heading Operation a specific example of using the present device in connection with a garden hose was explained. It is quite obvious, however, that any one of the devices may be readily adapted with slight changes to serve as connecting units between standard pipes or tubing where articulation between the fixed ends of such pipes or tubing is required.

In the drawings a few specific embodiments of the present invention were illustrated for the purpose of facilitating the explanation of the working principle of the device. It is quite obvious that changes in the structural arrangement may be effected to simplify and improve the manufacture of the device, such changes being deemed to reside within the scope of this invention as covered by the annexed claim.

What is claimed as new is:

In a swivel-joint hose-connecting unit, a bushing having enlarged and reduced internally threaded body portions, the enlarged portion serving for removably receiving an existing threaded faucet, a tubular element threaded at one end and in thread-engagement with the reduced bushing portion, the other end of the tubular element forming an annular enlargement having a washer seat, a relatively narrow washer supported by said seat; a sleeve revolubly engaging said tubular element, said sleeve havin at one end a relatively broad, externally threaded flange with a wide, flat outer face, its other end extending toward said reduced body portion of said bushing, a spring element interposed between that latter bushing portion and that other sleeve and for forcibly urging said wide flange face against said narrow washer; a hollow angular body having an enlarged, internally threaded upper end and a lower end provided with an external thread for accommodating a hose fitting, said enlarged upper end of the angular body having a gasket seat at the bottom of its thread, a relatively broad gasket carried by said seat externally to, spaced from and concentric with said relatively narrow washer supported by the seat of the annular enlargement, the internal thread of the enlarged end of said angular body removably but tightly engaging the external thread of said sleeve flange, said broad gasket forming a water-tight seal and being forcibly and fixedly held between said wide outer flange face and said enlarged end of the angular body.

CHARLES KLINGLER. ERNEST F. KLINGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 324,874 Morton Aug. 25, 1885 457,503 Ball Aug. 11, 1891 671,366 Brodie Apr. 2, 1901 2,082,654 Reader June 1, 1937 2,215,686 Buchet Sept. 4, 1940 2,443,993 Schenkelberger June 22, 1948 

